Club Lexus Members Sound off on Death of GS300
We can't say we were surprised to learn that Lexus was ending production of the GS300, but it's still obviously a bad sign for the future.
Beginning of the End?
For years now, Lexus fans have kind of assumed that the GS is on its death bed. We've basically given up hope that one of our favorite four-door luxury sedans will survive forever, and yet, it keeps soldiering on. But Lexus did recently decide to nix the entry-level GS300, which trims the model down to two offerings.
Photos: Club Lexus
Opinions Wanted
As soon as this news broke, we were curious to see what Club Lexus members thought about it. And they certainly didn't disappoint, sharing a variety of opinions and hot takes in this intriguing thread.
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Good Decision?
Quite a few members agree with the decision, including Hoovey2411. "Excellent. Leave the '300' for the smaller IS. The GS has its proper base engine again. Like the Infiniti G25, the GS300 was not needed."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Barely Knew Ya
Some folks, in fact, barely even knew the GS300. "No big loss on deleting the GS300. I think I've only seen one on the road, and it was a dealer loaner," said JDR76. "I honestly didn’t even know that there even was a GS300," added RNM GS3.
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Price Drop
Fizzboy7 agrees that the GS300's days were numbered, but feels more needs to be done to save the remaining GS lineup. "It would have been a better call to dump the four-cylinder but keep the same base price. There is no prize to be had when the base model is now considerably more expensive. When a model is struggling, you want lower base prices, not higher ones."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Bad Updates
UDel agrees, and also has some ideas on what Lexus has done wrong so far. "It was a big mistake for Lexus to add a low powered four-cylinder nobody was asking for and to raise the price of the GS350. The 2016 update was a disaster for the GS and basically why it sells so poorly now."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Turn Back the Clock
"What we need is an updated 2GS-styled sedan with 3JZ engine," said RNM GS3. "BOOM - instant winner. BMW/MB/Audi all have executive sedans with up to date powertrains. Why Lexus refuses to do it is beyond me. Every time I see a 2GS, it still looks better than any Lexus sedan currently on sale."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Necessary Changes
Count Fizzboy7 among the many who don't care for the 3GS styling updates. "The GS needs a refined motor (V6 or inline) suited to touring and luxurious driving. That is what the culture of most GS buyers have wanted and sought out. The facelift was indeed a step back. The face is just plain weird, not classy, not luxurious, nor sporty. And the body needs to ditch the odd d-pillar kink."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Fire-Breathing Sedan
EZZ has other ideas, however. "The ES is a better touring car. Lexus doesn't need a better tourer. It needs a midsize sports sedan that has fire breathing capability with Lexus reliability that is cheaper than the German alternatives. The current GS styling isn't great (boring) and its performance is abysmal relative to its competitors."
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
Save Me
If we were Lexus, we'd certainly be paying attention to what these actual Lexus owners are saying about the GS. And, we want to hear what you think it will take to save the sedan. So head over here and chime in with your thoughts on this hot topic!
>>Join the conversation about the GS300 right here in the Club Lexus Forum!
For help with the service of your car, check out the how-to section of ClubLexus.com.